The Mediating Effect of Psychological Resilience and Coping Style on Fear of Recurrence and Reproductive Concerns in Breast Cancer Patients of Childbearing Age

Shuoshuo Li,1 Zhongtao Zhou,1 Ling Cheng,1 Weina Du,1 Zhengqun Pan,2 Jing Zhang3 1School of Nursing, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, People’s Republic of China; 2Forest Heights LTC, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada; 3School of Mental Health, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jing Zhang, School of Mental Health, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, 233030, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: Fear of recurrence and reproductive concerns are great public health concerns among breast cancer patients in childbearing age. The purpose of this study was to explore whether psychological resilience and coping styles play mediating roles in fear of recurrence and reproductive concerns among Chinese breast cancer patients in childbearing age.Methods: A total of 1267 breast cancer patients of childbearing age completed the questionnaires, including a brief demographic questionnaire survey. The Chinese version of the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Scale and the Chinese version of the Reproductive Concerns Scale were used to assess the fear of recurrence and reproductive concerns, respectively. And the psychological resilience scale and the simple coping style questionnaire were used to evaluate breast cancer patients’ psychological resilience and coping style during childbearing age. Mediation analyses were conducted by using PROCESS macro in the SPSS software.Results: Fear of recurrence had both direct and indirect effects on Reproductive Concerns. psychological resilience and coping style were not only independent mediators in the relationship between fear of recurrence and Reproductive Concerns but also chain mediators.Conclusion: The results of the current study highlight the crucial role of early intervention for Reproductive Concerns with a focus on fear of recurrence of breast cancer patients of childbearing age, more especially, on those with poorer psychological resilience and coping style.Keywords: childbearing age, breast cancer, fear of recurrence, reproductive concerns, psychological resilience, coping style